God is in the Hard Stuff

Bruce Bickel and Stan Jantz
Barbour Pub Inc. (2005)
ISBN 1593109245
Reviewed by Beverly Pechin for Reader Views (1/06)

When I first started this book I was expecting the same old, same old. What I got, instead was a wonderful resource book that not only could I relate to and understand but would hold forever as a referral book when I needed answers.

This book is filled with every day and not so every day dilemmas in life. My favorite areas were when the authors touched on Cancer and Living in Physical Pain as these were recent aspects of my life I had encountered. The answers were not there in black and white. They didn't do the thinking for you. Instead they put it in perspective, using a Christian based attitude that made you stop and think. Utilizing various areas/books and quotes from the bible they spoke in layman's terms to help you understand why and what you are going through, from a Christian point of view.

My favorite part of the book is how, at the end of each chapter, the authors create one page of bulleted thoughts and ideas related to the subject. In particular they comment on physical pain that while your pain may seem to last endlessly, it is only in this world and in God's plan it is just a small fraction of the life ahead.

I believe what I enjoyed most is the fact that Bruce and Stan not only put some answers to every day questions and problems we face as human beings into black and white but they didn't shove things at you as "This is the ONLY answer", as some religious books often do, but instead give you thoughts to make you find your own inner answers.

I personally will be purchasing this book to keep tucked up in the closet for those times when a friend needs help and you have no idea what to give them to help them through this situation. For times when death is something not acceptable, as in the case of losing a child or loved one too early, or when a diagnosis seems incredibly unfair. It's something I think everyone should hold onto for looking back on later and remembering the "big picture" of our true life. With skilled writing and the ability to put what we often have trouble understanding, into today’s world Bruce and Stan have finally found a way to understand life from a Christian perspective. Kudos!

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